Apparatus and methods of manufacturing and assembling microscale and nanoscale components and assemblies

Abstract

An apparatus including a positioner that is transitional from a first positioner orientation towards a second positioner orientation and that comprises a bistable member having a first substantially stable state corresponding to the first positioner orientation and a second substantially stable state corresponding to the second positioner orientation. The apparatus also includes a coupler that is transitional from a first coupler orientation towards a second coupler orientation in response to transition of the bistable-member.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a positioner transitional from a first positioner orientation towards a second positioner orientation and comprising a bistable member having a first substantially stable state corresponding to the first positioner orientation and a second substantially stable state corresponding to the second positioner orientation; 
 a coupler transitional from a first coupler orientation towards a second coupler orientation in response to transition of the bistable-member; and 
 a manipulation interface coupled to the positioner and including at least one flexible member configured to deflect in response to contact with a manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the positioner and the coupler has at least one feature dimension that is not greater than about 1000 microns. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second coupler orientations correspond to the first and second positioner orientations. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coupler includes at least two members each having first and second member orientations corresponding to the first and second coupler orientations, respectively. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coupler and the positioner are unitarily formed. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coupler is directly coupled to the positioner. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coupler is directly coupled to a bistable portion of the positioner. 
   
   
     8. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one support, wherein the coupler is configured to engage at least one receptacle corresponding to the coupler in response to transition of the coupler towards the second coupler orientation, and wherein the at least one support is configured to abut the at least one receptacle when the coupler and the at least one receptacle are engaged. 
   
   
     9. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one transitioner, wherein the coupler is configured to engage at least one receptacle corresponding to the coupler in response to transition of the coupler towards the second coupler orientation, and wherein the at least one transitioner is configured to contact the at least one receptacle and, thereby, transition the positioner towards the second positioner orientation in response to translation of the coupler towards the at least one receptacle. 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a first one of the first and second coupler orientations is an engaged orientation in which the coupler is configured to engage a receptacle corresponding to the coupler, and wherein a second one of the first and second coupler orientations is a disengaged orientation in which the coupler and the receptacle are disengaged. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising the receptacle. 
   
   
     12. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coupler includes at least two members each having first and second member orientations corresponding to the first and second coupler orientations, respectively, wherein a first one of the first and second member orientations is an engaged orientation in which the first and second members are configured to cooperatively engage at least one receptacle corresponding to the first and second members, and wherein a second one of the first and second member orientations is a disengaged orientation in which the first and second members are cooperatively disengaged from the at least one receptacle. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein transition of the positioner from the first positioner orientation towards the second positioner orientation transitions the first and second members towards the engaged orientation by decreasing a separation distance between the first and second coupler members. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein transition of the positioner from the first positioner orientation towards the second positioner orientation transitions the first and second members towards the disengaged orientation by decreasing a separation distance between the first and second coupler members. 
   
   
     15. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein transition of the positioner from the first positioner orientation towards the second positioner orientation transitions the first and second members towards the engaged orientation by increasing a separation distance between the first and second coupler members. 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein transition of the positioner from the first positioner orientation towards the second positioner orientation transitions the first and second members towards the disengaged orientation by increasing a separation distance between the first and second coupler members. 
   
   
     17. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the first and second members includes a guide by which the at least one of the first and second members at least partially aligns with a corresponding feature of the at least one receptacle. 
   
   
     18. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the guide extends from the at least one of the first and second members. 
   
   
     19. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the guide is configured to extend through an aperture of the at least one receptacle. 
   
   
     20. A method, comprising:
 frictionally engaging a manipulation interface of a first microcomponent with a manipulation probe, wherein the manipulation interface includes at least one flexible member configured to deflect in response to contact with the manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe; 
 contacting a transitioner of the first microcomponent and a receptacle of a second microcomponent; and 
 translating the first microcomponent towards the receptacle, thereby transitioning a coupler of the first microcomponent towards an engaged orientation in which the coupler and the receptacle are engaged; 
 wherein the manipulation interface, the coupler and the transitioner are each at least indirectly coupled to a positioner comprising a bistable member having at least one substantially stable state corresponding to the engaged orientation of the coupler. 
 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 20  further comprising aligning a guide extending from the first microcomponent with a corresponding alignment feature of the second microcomponent, wherein the alignment feature is an aperture of the receptacle. 
   
   
     22. The method of  claim 20  further comprising disengaging the manipulation interface from the manipulation probe after transitioning the coupler of the first microcomponent towards the engaged orientation. 
   
   
     23. A microscale apparatus in which at least one feature dimension is not greater than about 1000 microns, comprising:
 a bistable member transitional between first and second substantially stable states; 
 coupler members unitarily formed with the bistable member and transitional between engaged and disengaged orientations corresponding to the first and second substantially stable states, wherein the coupler members cooperatively engage a receptacle when in the engaged orientation and are disengaged from the receptacle when in the disengaged orientation, wherein transition of the coupler members from the disengaged orientation towards the engaged orientation decreases a separation distance between the coupler members, and wherein the coupler members each include a guide extending therefrom and configured to extend through a corresponding aperture of the receptacle; 
 a support unitarily formed with the bistable member and configured to abut the receptacle when the coupler members engage the receptacle; 
 a transitioner unitarily formed with the bistable member and configured to contact the receptacle and, thereby, transition the bistable member from the second substantially stable state towards the first substantially stable state in response to translation of the coupler towards the receptacle; and 
 a manipulation interface unitarily formed with the bistable member and including an opposing pair of flexible members configured to deflect in response to contact with a manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe.